News Archive

The ground on the Links is superb

Wednesday, 03 February 2016

"A girl without freckles is like a night without stars."

Anon.

At the Links with a train in the background

It was trying to snow this morning at first lot as the horses were cantering round the Links, on grass that was only just on the easy side of good. It was only a couple of flurries though and it doesn’t look like we are going to get too much of the wet stuff today. It is much colder than yesterday, with a good breeze and I think the forecast is for this cold weather for most of the week. It has been a good morning as we have had a couple of friends of Barry, my assistant trainer, in riding out as they have brought horses to the sales, so we are getting on really well.

Humphry Repton leading Peeps and Bracken Brae

Topaling hated the ground at Southwell, but you never know until you try. She will be reverting back to the other all-weathers and having a pop over hurdles when the ground is not heavy. The only plus from yesterday is that she may come down the handicap, but I bet it will only be one or two for being beaten a long way. Prayer Time had a good blow and ran respectably after his long time off. He will come on a bundle for the race and is another that will be back running shortly on the flat and over hurdles. We have two runners tomorrow at Southwell, that are again first timers. We will have to hope they go on it.

The Authorized ex Four Miracles two-year-old

We are very fortunate, if you can call it that, that in Newmarket, both with the training profession and the stud farmers, there is a code of conduct procedure which lets everybody know of any infectious diseases, i.e. strangles and herpes. You may have seen that The National Stud have got a case, which has shut the stud down for at least 28 days. It came in with a group of horses from overseas. It is very unfortunate for everybody who has mares going to the stud to be covered, including us who have two booked, and we will have to wait and see what happens. This code of conduct is not a national one unfortunately, although most responsible studs and premises should let everybody know. However, there are certain places that don’t and just hide the fact as it can be commercial suicide, especially at this time of year. With the international movement of horses getting more and more, it is imperative that everybody plays fair, as any outbreak could close Newmarket as a training centre for many weeks, costing fortunes.